An FHE Lesson Plan on Charitable Giving
This lesson plan was developed by Dave Dixon, co-founder of the blog/podcast No Poor Among Them, which was recently highlighted on Rational Faiths. Opening Hymn Suggestions: 219 “Because I Have Been Given Much”, 223 “Have I Done Any Good”, 29 “A Poor Wayfaring Man of...
The Maxwell Institue Blog: A Chat with Blair Hodges
1)Why the blog? Blogging is the fastest and easiest way to let people know about our research and publications. 2)Who started it? We launched the blog in March of this year. Originally we planned to roll it out as part of an...
Pulling the Race Band-Aid Off
The LDS Church recently added a new page titled Race and the Priesthood to their website under the Gospel Topics section. It is by far the most informative piece the Church has released on the subject. And even though it is tucked away neatly on LDS.org, it has set...
Serving the Least of These
I first became introduced to Russell Farris at a network marketing group that he and I both attended. We became friends over time and I grew to understand his love for serving others. He is very active in his Baptist Church, and while we would often disagree on...
I’m Remaking Christmas
I'd love to love Christmas again. As a kid I'd play around the tree for hours. Impressions of ivory twinkle lights glinting off my mother's extensive collection of antique colored glass ornaments--and of accidentally smashing several--are among the most potent of my...
Relationship and Sexuality Courses For LDS Couples
The Barker brothers are huge fans of Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife. She has appeared several times on Mormon Stories and Mormon Matters podcasts. She will be writing for us next month and we couldn't be more excited about it. We saw a post from her Dr. Fife's FB page...
Dr. Lawrence Krauss Gets it Wrong….Again
Note: I am publicly apologizing for this post. In it I have taken Dr. Lawrence Krauss' comment out of context. This was an honest mistake, as I was working from memory. When I wrote the post, I could not find the debate on You Tube to confirm the context in...
Holy Envy, Batman!
I don’t know of anyone who is part of any religious community who sometimes doesn’t suffer from the phenomenon of Holy Envy. This can sometimes come from a practice or belief you wish your particular faith community embraced or it can come from something as simple as...
“The Spirit That I Have Seen May Be The Devil”–Nephi’s Slaying of Laban
The opening pages of the Book of Mormon confront us with the most problematic story in the entire book—the murder of a defenseless Laban by a sword-wielding Nephi. (1 Nephi 4) We all know the story. Nephi has been commanded by God (through his prophet-father Lehi)...
Wing Tipped Shoes
by Michael Barker "A man may be counted a virtuous man though he have made many slips in his life...also a comely man and lovely, though he have some warts upon his hand, yea, not only freckles upon his face, but also scars." (Miles Smith - one of the King James...
Hoping For A Wise Star
Some of us are clear about the path we have chosen. Others of us find ourselves feeling our way along what seems like a muddy path to enlightenment. . .
Screwtape on Activist Mormons
Dear Sister R, I'm writing concerning the recent actions for "equality" that have been causing disturbances among the Latter-day Saints. As you know, I am new to work with the Mormons after my repentance and resulting decision to give up my post as Senior Demon and...
Chatting With the Founders of “No Poor Among Them”
CHATTING WITH THE FOUNDERS OF "NO POOR AMONG THEM" How did the “No Poor Among Them” project start? Dave: In April of 2012, I experienced what I consider to be the culmination of my short-lived academic career. I had the opportunity to present at a Mormon Studies...
Race and the Priesthood
Race and the Priesthood by Viliami Pauni December 6, 2013 a link to a Church web page appeared in my Facebook news feed that dealt with “Race and the Priesthood.”1 I stared at the link and hoped. As I read through it the first time I was deeply moved. As I read...
Why I’ll Be Wearing Pants to Church on December 15th
The Second Annual Wear Pants to Church Day is on December 15th. Women are invited to wear pants or purple or both. Men are invited to wear purple. (And pants!) Let me state clearly that, just like last year, this is not a protest. I cannot say this emphatically...
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Herrings
My cousin posted this article on his Facebook wall this week. It's a pretty typical post for the demographic subgroup that is "members of Peter's immediate and extended family", and it's pretty innocuous in its own right. Most of my family, friends, and acquaintances...
LGBTQ Mormon Crisis
Two Printable handout for bishops and stake presidents that talks empirically about LGBTQ suicides:
The LGBTQ Mormon Crisis: Responding to the Empirical Research on Suicide
Youth Suicide Rates and Mormon Religious Context: An Additional Empirical Analysis
The Barker Brothers’ Projects
These videos were created for Latter-day Saint parents and allies to voice their love for their LGBT brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. They want to give a message of comfort and support to other parents who are navigating the difficult conflicts that can arise in families around this issue.
“Cogito!” (“I think!”) follows the intellectual adventures of a recovering academic outside the walls of academia.
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